Chapter 560. Taking a Leap (5)

Chapter 560. Taking a Leap (5)

“Why did Vator show up here, Mister Jin-Ho?” the pale-faced Lee Hyeon-Su animatedly asked while pointing at Vator standing in the Martial Assembly HQ's parking lot.

Kang Jin-Ho nonchalantly shrugged his shoulders. “Because I told him to come here?”

“You told that big basta... Kuh-hum, big man to come here? Seriously?”

“Yup,” Kang Jin-Ho replied without much concern.

Vator discovered Kang Jin-Ho and quickly strode toward the latter's position. “I greet my master!”

When Vator tried to get down on one knee again, Kang Jin-Ho briefly waved his hand and stopped the big man. “We're dispensing with unnecessary formalities from now on.”

“Understood. Your wish is my command,” Vator weightily nodded.

Lee Hyeon-Su's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. His shocked gaze hurriedly alternated between Kang Jin-Ho and Vator. “W-w-what, is g-g-g-going on here?!”

He failed to string a coherent sentence together when his shock ballooned beyond the manageable scale. Didn't these two men fight each other to death not too long ago? In that case... When did they establish a relationship like this one?!

'Is this really happening?'

Lee Hyeon-Su blinked his eyes nonstop while staring at Vator. If it was someone else, he'd not have reacted like this. But Vator?

The Vator Lee Hyeon-Su witnessed that night was the type to never bow his head to anyone. Rather than submit, he'd place his head on the chopping block first! But such a man was submitting himself to someone else? Seriously?

Wiggins pursed his lips while studying Vator from top to bottom. “My lord, I believe an explanation might be in order.”

“Mm...” Kang Jin-Ho nodded. “Got it. Let's go inside first. You too, Vator.”

“Yes, master.”

After confirming that Vator and Zhang Dajing had nodded in agreement, Kang Jin-Ho turned around and headed back inside the HQ.

While walking toward the conference room, everyone had a hunch that the upcoming meeting would take a while.

***

“Ehm...” Lee Hyeon-Su found himself panicking somewhat at all the attention he was receiving. 'What the hell?! Does everyone here think I'm some kind of a moderator or something?'

When the number of participants increased in a meeting, the role of a moderator who could set the agenda and keep everyone on track would become even more crucial. Lee Hyeon-Su knew that much. His problem was, though...

Why did everyone naturally assume that the moderator role belonged to Lee Hyeon-Su! Unfortunately, the conference room's atmosphere precluded him from voicing his dissatisfaction. Besides...

'Firstly, Mister Jin-Ho and the Assembly Master Bang Jin-Hun. Then, Knight Wiggins and Vator, too...'

All those people were capable of squashing Lee Hyeon-Su to death with only one finger! He suddenly became cognizant of how weird it was for him to hang out with all these titans. However, what choice did he have?

“Kuh-huh-hum. First of all...”

Lee Hyeon-Su should ask, 'How high?' when ordered to jump, no?

“Is it possible for us to hear the explanation on why Vator... Mm, Mister Vator? N-no, Sir Vator has decided to join us?”

Everyone's gaze quickly shifted over to Kang Jin-Ho. He was the only one capable of explaining this bizarre situation, after all!

Kang Jin-Ho didn't betray their expectations and gave them an answer. “He's on our side now.”

“...”

...Unfortunately, his answer turned out to be utterly useless!

“M-Mister Jin-Ho, can you give us a clearer explanation?”

“Well, things somehow worked out that way.”

“N-no, hang on a minute... I mean, how did things, like...”

Kang Jin-Ho frowned slightly when Lee Hyeon-Su stammered ungainly like that. Not because he was displeased by the questioning, though. Everyone could see that he was mulling over how to explain this situation better. So, no one urged him to get a move on and patiently waited until Kang Jin-Ho could finish organizing his thoughts.

“My thoughts? Why?”

“My lord, my role in the Round Table was far more... important than you think. When they learn that I've decided to serve you, the relationship between the Round Table and the Martial Assembly will reach the point of no return. That could lead to open warfare.”

“Hmm...” Kang Jin-Ho groaned softly.

“That is why... I'd like to hear what you think, my lord. Are you truly prepared to go that far? Should I inform the Round Table of my current status? If you don't want this, I can always return to the Round Table.”

Lee Hyeon-Su hurriedly butted in. “H-hold on. Even if you return to the Round Table now, would it be enough to mend the relationship between the two organizations? Besides, you...”

“Yes, I'll most likely be detained and punished severely. However, I do not wish to stay if my presence would bring harm to this place.”

Kang Jin-Ho slowly nodded, then replied casually. “Tell them the truth.”

“...Will that be fine, my lord?”

“It doesn't matter,” Kang Jin-Ho relaxedly revealed what was on his mind. “I knew this would happen from the beginning. And I wouldn't have said yes if those people worried me.”

Lee Hyeon-Su grimaced while raising his voice. It seemed he didn't agree with Kang Jin-Ho's point of view. “But, Mister Jin-Ho... The Round Table is not as weak as you think. For one, this is probably the worst move you can make politically. With this, we will be completely isolated with no allies to speak of.”

“Since when did the Round Table become our allies?”

“But, the possibility of...”

Kang Jin-Ho shook his head. “Don't try to survive while hoping for imaginary allies to suddenly come to your aid. The world isn't kind enough to act according to your wishes. The only way to survive is to become stronger. That's it.”

Lee Hyeon-Su clamped his mouth shut. What Kang Jin-Ho said was a realistic yet idealistic way of looking at things.

Independently improving one's strength to prepare for potential external threats was probably the most ideal strategy. Unfortunately, such a thing was realistically impossible. That was why countries formed alliances and signed security treaties with each other.

With constant and dedicated investment, that ideal strategy could become a reality one day. However, the enemy nations wouldn't be sitting around sucking on their thumbs in the meantime. Obviously, they wouldn't graciously wait around for you to become stronger.

Wiggins nodded contemplatively. “In that case, I'll let them know, my lord.”

“Okay. Do it.”

Lee Hyeon-Su's frown deepened in dissatisfaction and concern, but he couldn't say anything else. Thankfully, though, it seemed he wasn't the only person thinking this way.

“Mister Jin-Ho?” Bang Jin-Hun suddenly raised his voice.

“Yes?”

“I get what you're saying. However, don't you think that's way too idealistic? We're already at odds with Japan and China. In this precarious situation, can we even afford to make an enemy out of Europe, too?”

“It will be tough, yes,” Kang Jin-Ho replied honestly.

“Then... Why do you deliberately choose this difficult path?” Bang Jin-Hun's expression stiffened noticeably. “If we look at our situation realistically and objectively, there are several options available to us. We could join hands with either China or Japan, even if we'd be subjected to some humiliation. Or, we could try to maintain some kind of balance while not antagonizing either side. So, why do you wish to drag Europe into this as another enemy and drive our situation to the extremes?”

Kang Jin-Ho stared quietly at Bang Jin-Hun before slowly addressing not just the Assembly Master but everyone else in here. “Because... This is the quickest way for us to get stronger.”

“I get that, Mister Jin-Ho. However, we don't have the time to...”

“Yes. Because we don't have the time,” Kang Jin-Ho muttered, his voice becoming colder and withdrawn. When Bang Jin-Hun heard that voice, he automatically sat upright. “I've been thinking about something while observing how our enemies responded to us. And that is... They don't wait for us. And they will resort to even more extreme measures to oppress us in the future. Yet, you wish to act as a balancer?”

Kang Jin-Ho smirked derisively. The role of maintaining balance could only be performed by someone strong enough to suppress all sides simultaneously. In that case, why was the weakest group in the fray thinking about maintaining balance and whatnot?

A weak balancer—an individual maintaining balance—was fated to be used and abused by all sides before being kicked to the curbside. Entering an alliance with one side wouldn't help, either; once the alliance was deemed to have run its course, the weak balancer would be taken out to the back and put down... Just like a hunting dog with no more uses left.

“I have many things to protect. And many things to do,” Kang Jin-Ho slowly chewed his words out. “I realized something not too long ago. If I continue to passively defend against the incoming attacks, a situation beyond my ability to fix will arrive sooner or later. Even if I have to get a move on when that happens, I don't want to regret anything. Growing stronger even if the going is getting tougher... That is the path I've chosen.”

“Does that mean... Rather than co-existence, are you choosing the reign of domination, Mister Jin-Ho?”

“As far as I know...” Kang Jin-Ho suddenly smirked suspiciously. “There is no such thing as co-existence when strong individuals are involved.”

Chills ran down Lee Hyeon-Su's spine just then.

Was Kang Jin-Ho aware of what he just said? Did he know how his words might be interpreted as? He just declared his intentions to trample on Korea's East Asian neighbors and seize the hegemony of the region!

And that colossal declaration forced everyone to focus their gaze on Kang Jin-Ho... Their eyes burning brightly with hot-blooded passion!